Pumping system



D. H. HUNTER PUMPING SYSTEM Original Filed May 14. 1923 Patented July 13, 1926. I

UNITED STATES or DALLAS, )rnxAs, assrsnoia T0 SULLIVAN MACHINERY oom- PANY, A oonrona'rron or MASSACHUSETTS.

DAVID H. HUNTER,

P E T OFFICE.

ruivrrme SYSTEM.

Application filed my 14, 1923; Serial My invention relates to pumping systems, and more particularly to automatically controlled starting systems for air lift pumping mechanisms.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved air lift pumping mechanism. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved automatic control for the starting jet which is used in some kinds of air lift pumping systems.

It is no uncommon thing in practice to encounter wells whose normal or idle water level is above, by a very material height, the level which the liquid flow will maintain during the regular pumpingof the well, and j in wells of this nature it frequently happens that if the well has not been pumped for some time the head of water above the foot piece may be so great that the static head will be inexcess of the available air pres sure. In wells oi this type 1t is customary to employ an auxiliary or startlng 16119? ranged a substantial distance above the bee tom of the well, this jet being used, so to speak, to blow off the excess head so that I the main jet may be able to discharge and then carry on the regular pumping. It is not desirable ordinarily that the auxiliary or starting jet remain in operation after the conditions become such that the main'jet can assume the work and accordingly various means for controlling the auxiliary jet have been devised. It is, particularly, the object of my invention to provide animproved automatic control for such a starting or auxiliary jet. Other obj ects and advantages of my improvement will, however, herein after more fully appear. l a

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view partially in side elevation and partially diagrammatic showing the general arrangement of the system.

Fig. 2 is'an enlarged detail view in cen tral vertical section through the control mechanism per se.

Fig. 3 is a detailed section on a still further enlarged scale takenon the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a section .on the line 44 of Fig.1.- i I -i1 8 .ventiona compressor 1 is'shown discharging illustrative embodiment of my ing No. 38,692. lkiienewed October 2, 1924.

arranged at the bottom of a riser pipe 6 which at-its upper end terminates in atank 7 from which a pipe 8 leads oli to any desired point of discharge. The other branch of the pipe 4; is also valved and is numbered 9 and'connectsyunder the control of a valve mechanism generally designated 10, with a pipe 11 leading to an auxiliary jet 12 arranged within the' riser pipe 6 at a substantial distance above the bottom of the well, but materially belowthe level to which the liquid will rise when the well fills up in the intervals between pumping. It will be observed that the valve mechanism 10 com' prises a ea-sing 13in which a conical bore 14: is provided and within this bore a hollow conical valve 15 is rotatable, the valve 15 at its open end communicating with the pipe 9 while through a port 16. therein and a port 16' in the casing 13 fluid is adapted to be supplied to the'pipell. I Itwill be observed that the valve 15 extends through the end of the casing 13 and is provided with a squared stem 17 upon which a sprocket wheel 18 is secured. e

I Within the tank there is provided a usual 'umbrellatop against which the mixture of is slidable, this bucket being mounted upon a vertically 'reciprocable rod '25 which is guided in guide members% and 27 projecting in radially from the sides of the casingmember 23. It will be, noted thatthe bottom of the casingmember 28 freely communicates through a passage 28 with the tank 7 while the top also communicates through a short piece of pipe 29 with the interior of the top of the tank 7. Secured to the pipe 29 within theinterior ofthe tank isa grooved troughalike member 30 which projects upwardly and over so that it extends just inside the rim of the depending portion ofthe umbrella and so thatit re-' ceives a small portion of the liquid which essee strikes the umbrella and deflects it into the pipe through which it flows into the casl g and falls into the bucket 2%. The 2 is provided with a small orifice V32 3i! througl which the liquid flows out, this (="li'l"6 .0 l ;the tank 5. the bucketgradually, fills it the pump. is pumpmg enough, Water to. 1 i l A119 orifices may be d to var}; the period of operation it will be noted that the rod is .5 cted to uitable chain which is -pte=;i to cooperate with the. sprocketwlleel l8 and which passes overv tie'iatter and that the free end of the chain 38: has attached thereto a Weight. 34, the weight 34 being so l cted that it will support tie bucket until it is nearly full and will then be lifted by the combii a weight of the bucket and the water cont ined inthe latter. 'The sprocket wheel l chain are so arranged with. re sp ct to each other that at the time that the bucket, in top position the valve. is Wide ")en at when theibucket drops to bottom ion; the valve is closed. rein the, foregoing description the mode n 01" this mechanism Willbe readnt. Let it be assumed. that it is desired to start. the system and that, the ling level of the liquid inthevwell is that the opening of the val-vecontrolthe pipe Zidces-not result in the starting This hav v 7 now. in the riser pipe 6. ing becnltcsted out, the valve-controlling the pipe 9 Will be opened and since the position of thevalve l5 is then such. with respect to the; casing that the pumping iluidimay freely flow; through the ports 16 and 16 to the pipe 11,: fluid will pass to the auxiliary jet l2 and iuilllstartto; pump the; Well. The liquid rising in the riser pipe'tl will discharge against the umbrella, and in part will be intercepted by the deflector 30 and will be ccnnectedtherehy and by the pipe 29 to discharge into the bucket 24E, During the startin of the Well it may. be that the quantity of liquid raised by the single jet will. not be sdgreatthat the quantity passing into the bucket cannot flow out and back into the tank 7, but on the pumping down of the liquid to a, suilcient extent to permit the foot piece 6 to become operative; the discharge will be considerably amplified: and in ashortatime the quantity ofliquid interceptedibytae deflector, d'fromt'h-is greater flow will fill the bucket and. accordingly cause the valve 1 mto lac-moved to interrupt the supply Q3: fiindzto the; auxiliary pumping jet. 1t Will-be; understood thatit e, foot: piece (Sis so openc'tediasto maintain during theopu-mping of. the Wells flow of such magnitude'thatthe bucket will be constantly maintained in depressed position and so that the valve 1 5 Will Le maintained closed throughout the entire remaining period of pumping operation. It is unnecessary that the parts bedesigned exactly as specified, it being evident that if desired the opening 32 may be so proportioned that the bucket will become filled just after the surplus head ispumped oli and Without having-to have any substantial overlap between the operations of the two jets, but it is somewhat difficult to precisely the period during which starting discharge may be necessary, the system oif operation first described is probably preferable from a practicalstandpoint;

While 1 have in thi application described one form which my invention may'assume in practice, it' will be understood thatst'his form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be. modified and en ibodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.v I

Fl hat I claim asnew and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is :v

1. In combination, a fluid actuat'edpunrp ing mechanism, and means for controlling the same including a rotatable valve and actuating means, for said valve operated by a portion of the liquid discharging from said pumping mechanism.

2. In combination, in an air li'lt pumping mechanism comprising a, riser pipe, a foot piece, and a starting jet, means "for control ling said jet including a rotatable valve, and means operated by a portion oi the liquid flowing in the riser for closing: said valve.

3. In an. air lift pumping mechanism, a pump, a tank to receive the di charge. thereof, and means for controlling said. pump including a. receptacle and. means for efi'ectingv the. control of saidv pump disposed in said receptacle and, made operative by' a flow of fluid diverted from the discharge flow;

4. The. combination infan airlift pump ing system comprising a riser pipe, a foot piece, a starting jet, .means for controlling said jet including; a valvefal t'2ii1kndaptsd to receivethe discharge from said riser. pipe, a relatively stationary receptacle, andmeans cooperatingwith said receptacle and operated by av portion of the. liquid flowing in. the riser for closing saidva-lve. i v

5. In an air: liftpumping systennin combination, ariser pipe,,a tank receiving, the discharge therefrom, main and, auxiliary jets associated with said riser pipe, a receptacle, and: a. liquid. actuated member" associated therewith for controlling said auriiliary jet.

6. In in an airlift pumping systenn. in combinatioin, ariser pipe, a tank receiving the,dischargetherefrom,mainandauxiliary jets associated With said riser pipe, and

loo

means including'a receptacle and a liquid actuated receiving member associated therewith for controlling said auxiliary jet and adapted to discharge into said receptacle. 1

7. In an air lift pumping system, in combination, a riser pipe, a tankreceiving the discharge therefrom, main and auxiliary jets associated with said riser pipe, arecep-- tacle and a liquid actuated member associated therewith for controlling said auxili-c ary jet and adapted to have communication with said receptacle and tank. I

8. In an air lift pumping mechanism comprising a riser pipe, a tank receiving the discharge therefrom, and main and auxiliary jets associated with said riser pipe, means for controlling said auxiliaryjet including a vessel supported by said tank, a vesselslidable in said first mentioned vessel and having a perforated bottom, means connecting the bottom of said first mentioned vessel with the interior of the tank, meansfor conducting a portion of the liquid raised in said riser pipe to said second mentioned vessel, and a valve controlling the air supply to the auxiliary jet controlled by movement of said second mentioned vessel.

9. In an air lift pumping mechanism com prising a riser pipe, a tank receiving the discharge therefrom, and main and auxiliary jets associated with said riser pipe, means for controlling said auxiliary jet including a vessel supported by said tank, a vessell slidable in said first mentioned vessel and having a perforated bottom, means connecting the bottom of said first mentioned vessel with the interior of the tank, means for conducting a portion of the liquid raised in said riser pipe to said second mentioned vessel,

a valve controlling the air supply to the auxiliary jet controlled by movement of said second. mentioned vessel, and means including a rotatable member connected to said valveand a memberconnected to said second mentioned vessel and cooperatlng wlth said rotatable member to transmit movement thereto.

10. In an air lift pumping mechanism comprising a riser pipe,a tank receiving the discharge therefrom, and main and auxiliary jets associated with said riser pipe,

'means for controlling said auxiliary jet including a vessel supported by said tank, a vessel slidable in said first mentioned vessel and having a perforated bottom, means connecting the bottom of said first mentioned vessel with'the interior of the tank, means for conducting a portion of the liquid raised in said riser pipe to said second mentioned vessel, a valve controlling theai-r supply to the auxiliary jet controlled by movement of said second mentioned vessel, and

means including a liquid actuated member arranged outside said tank for controlling said auxiliary'jet.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

- DAVID H. HUNTER.

ets associated with said riser pipe, and 

